Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, just like a cat. Rabbits are generally clean animals, and having a designated area for your rabbit to go to the toilet makes for a quick and easy cleanup. Additionally, having a litter box for your rabbit makes it easy to monitor any changes in your rabbit’s faeces or urination. Although accidents can still occur, most rabbits will go to the toilet in a designated area once they are trained to do so. It is recommended to have your rabbit spayed or neutered to help control their territorial behaviour and make training easier.
How to train your rabbit to use a litter tray?
When you bring home your rabbit, you should place at least one litter tray in their enclosure. The litter box should be placed in a corner of your rabbit’s housing area, and if the enclosure is multi-story, you may choose to place a box in a corner on each level. If your rabbit already tends to go to the toilet in a specific corner, you should put the litter box there. It is ideal to have an enclosure that is large enough to fit the litter box, food, water and toys, while still offering enough room for your rabbit to sprawl out and relax. If your rabbit roams freely and does not live in an enclosure, you should place the litter box in a corner in the area where you wish for them to go to the toilet e.g. in the laundry. It can be helpful to put some hay in the corner of the little box, as rabbits often like to have a snack while they are going to the bathroom.
Your rabbit may continue to poop outside the litter box. When this occurs, pick up the faeces with a scoop and place it in the litter box, to encourage the desirable behaviour. It is important to clean any mess they have left in other areas of the enclosure as soon as possible with a rabbit-safe enzymatic cleaner to decrease their urge to remark in this location. If you notice that your rabbit is regularly going to the toilet in a specific location where there is no litter box, you may choose to gently herd them back to their enclosure where the litter box is situated. If the problem is persisting, you may consider temporarily adding another litter box in the problematic area. Sometimes rabbits are too lazy to hop back to a certain area, therefore it may be easier to adapt to this rather than try to train them out of it.
Keep your rabbit in the enclosed housing area until they are using the litter box consistently. Once you are satisfied, you can offer them more space to roam. If they are regularly using one litter box, you may be able to remove the other litter boxes.
What litter tray should I use?
You should choose the litter box based on how many rabbits you have and the size of your rabbits. Whilst there are a variety of rabbit-specific litter trays, many cat litter trays are also suitable for rabbits. Your rabbit should be able to move around in the litter box comfortably, and the sides of the litter box should be low enough for your rabbit to jump in and out easily. The Living World Small Animal Toilet is a great corner toilet option for one or two rabbits.
What litter do I place in the litter box?
Selection of litter is critical as many cat litters can be unsafe for rabbits. Rabbits can be known to rest in and sometimes eat their litter, so you must not use litter that is toxic to rabbits. Clumping litter is unsafe for rabbits because it clumps in the gastrointestinal tract and can cause blockage. You should also avoid clay litter as it can cause respiratory issues. Instead, you should opt for a natural, organic litter such as Breeders Choice Cat Litter, Catmate, Pet One Small Animal Bedding or straw. Once you find your preferred substrate, you should use this consistently as changing litter may cause your rabbit to stop using their tray. Please note that while your rabbit may nibble on some of the litter, they should not ingest large amounts of it.
Cleaning out the tray
Rabbits are different from cats in that they do not dig to bury their faeces in the litter, they go to the toilet on the surface of the litter and leave it there, while the urine naturally trickles to the bottom. This means the cleanliness of the litter tray may be deceptive and regular cleaning is necessary. You should spot-clean your rabbit’s litter box 1-2 times a day by removing the droppings with a scoop. Once a week, you should do a deep clean, where the entire contents of the tray is discarded, the tray is cleaned and new litter is added. We recommend having another litter box to alternate, so you can soak, disinfect and dry the soiled box, while replacing it with a fresh one.
Toilet training your rabbit may take some time and patience, but with consistency and positive reinforcement, it is possible to have a house-trained rabbit. Consistency is always key when it comes to toilet training your rabbit. Make sure to spot-clean the litter box daily, and replace the litter completely at least once a week. This will help to keep the litter box smelling fresh and encourage your rabbit to use it. If your rabbit has accidents outside of the litter box, clean it immediately and place it in the litter box to reinforce the designated area for going to the toilet. By following these tips, your rabbit will be using their litter box in no time!
